Junior Marissa Hardy is coming off a brilliant performance over Syracuse last Sunday.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 19, 2009) - Coming off a 3-2 weekend at the 2009 Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C., the ETSU softball team is set to open the doors to its brand new 500-seat stadium on Friday afternoon when the Lady Bucs host Furman. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.

ETSU knocked off Howard (12-3) and Akron (5-2) on Friday and Saturday. Then, on Sunday morning, the Lady Bucs got a strong effort from right-hander Marissa Hardy (Rocklin, Calif.), and outfielder Kate Powell (Johnson City) came through with some clutch hitting and fielding, as ETSU blanked BIG EAST foe Syracuse, 1-0, at Patriots Point Stadium. Hardy struck out a season high 10 batters and Powell gunned down an Orange runner at the plate - from left - and drove in the game-winning run with a single up the middle in the third inning.

Currently the Lady Bucs post the third strongest pitching staff in the Atlantic Sun, as ETSU has compiled a 1.62 ERA (8ER/34.2IP) and Hardy's 0.68 ERA ranks sixth in the conference.

Furman brings a record of 2-4 into play on Friday after going 1-3 this past weekend at the Tiger Invitational in Auburn, Ala. The Paladins began the season with a split against Georgia Tech. Furman is led by freshman outfielder Stephanie Field's .313 batting average (5-16). In the circle, junior right-hander Lana Mackey looks to pace the Paladins, as she has both victories in the early season.

Prior to Friday's doubleheader a special pregame ceremony will take place in honor of the first game being played in the ETSU Softball Complex. ETSU President Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr., ETSU Director of Athletics Dave Mullins, Wayne Basler (Managing Partner of BC Realty), Joe Grandy (Ferguson Enterprises) and Gerald Thomas (Thomas Construction) will be on hand to throw out ceremonial first pitches.